Constant snacking provides the perfect environment for cavity-inducing bacteria to do their work.

Got a grazer at home? Try to discern if their snack habit is a result of truly being hungry. If so, try to bulk up meals with healthy fats to make their tummies happier for longer.

If snacking because of boredom, or simply because those yummy fruit snacks are visible, try to help your little one find something else to do until the next mealtime.

Limit sugar

Excess sugar in the diet is known to cause a variety of issues for the body, and is especially bad for our teeth. Childhood is the perfect time to persuade those taste buds to be happy with whole foods and less sugar.

Try cheese sticks, apple slices, or a handful of nuts. All are great choices when it comes to filling tummies without wrecking teeth.

Hydrate with water or milk instead of sugar-sweetened beverages

Sports drinks, sodas, and even 100% juice just aren’t good for little chompers. They simply don’t provide enough nutritional benefit to be worth it.

Start healthy habits early

As soon as those cute little baby teeth pop through the gums, you’ll want to start brushing them.

And as soon as they’ll let you, you’ll want to teach your littles how to floss.

Make their twice daily dental hygiene routine a priority.

Consider dental sealants

Sealants are hardened plastic shields placed on the chewing surface of your child’s molars and pre-molars. They seal the surface of the tooth and help keep food and bacteria from causing cavities.

Dental sealants don’t cost much, match the exact color of your child’s tooth, and are quick and easy to apply.

Ask your dentist what other tips they have for your child’s specific situation.

We know encouraging healthy dental hygiene habits isn’t easy for our littles, but any little bit helps! You can do it!